A's future may be more clear

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, December 6, 2007

Photo: Eric Risberg

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** FILE ** Oakland Athletics' Dan Haren throws a pitch during a game against the San Francisco Giants in this file photo from June 9, 2007, in San Francisco. As the annual winter meetings approach next week, everybody wants to know whether Oakland's crafty general manager will offer up his top pitchers--All-Star Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Harden or even closer Huston Street--to better his own low-budget operation. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) JUNE 9, 2007 FILE PHOTO EFE OUT less

** FILE ** Oakland Athletics' Dan Haren throws a pitch during a game against the San Francisco Giants in this file photo from June 9, 2007, in San Francisco. As the annual winter meetings approach next week, ... more

Photo: Eric Risberg

A's future may be more clear

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With no deals on the last full day of the winter meetings, A's general manager Billy Beane might have an answer at last to which direction his team is heading.

Beane had said since the end of the season that he wasn't sure if the club was on the verge of a semi-rebuilding effort or if he was going to stick with the current core group and add some pieces to try to contend in 2008. Top trading chips Dan Haren and Joe Blanton are still in the A's fold as the meetings conclude today and Beane indicated that he might be leaning toward keeping the two starters and looking for pieces to add to help the team.

Asked if that means the A's direction is now more clear to him, Beane responded, "It's looking that way."

If Oakland does stay with the status quo, the next round of rumors involving the team are likely to center on free-agent outfielder/DH Barry Bonds, who was speaking to the A's about a possible contract last month before his indictment on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Bonds agent, Jeff Borris, reiterated Wednesday night that Bonds is healthy and plans to play in 2008.

The fact that the A's haven't swung a deal here, Beane said, "doesn't really disappoint me. We had some calls, there was some interest in things, but if we did anything, it wasn't going to be a cheap dance for anyone."

The Arizona Diamondbacks, who had met with Beane on Monday evening after the A's front office arrived, thought they had put together an attractive package for Haren that included up to five prospects, and though they checked in with Beane during the day, they had not received any definitive answer about their offer as of Wednesday night. Arizona probably had the best shot at making a match with the A's, with a deal that would have included top outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez and left-hander Brett Anderson, and there remains a slim chance that the two teams could work something out.

Asked if he was still mulling over any trade possibilities, Beane said, "We're not pushing our guys. It's more a slowing-down process. 'OK, we know you have interest, let us get back to you.' We have a pretty good idea which teams have the players to have a chance to overwhelm us."

Nothing is likely to happen with the Dodgers, who had inquired about Blanton. The teams didn't meet after postponing a get-together Tuesday, and one Dodgers source said the sides were "as far away as the moon" based on the A's demands for Blanton.

Oakland was connected with a New York team, however - in a wildfire rumor that swept the Opryland Hotel lobby and that had Beane laughing because of its scope and speed. By the time he got back to his hotel room after working out Wednesday afternoon, Beane had dozens of messages asking about the online report that Haren was going to the Twins in a three-way deal. The A's were also allegedly sending shortstop Bobby Crosby and first baseman Dan Johnson to the Mets along with Santana, with Oakland getting All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes and pitching prospect Kevin Mulvey.

"It's ridiculous," Beane said. "All-time most ridiculous. Of all the trade rumors the whole time I've been coming here, because of the genesis and how quickly it went around, that was the finest, or the worst, whatever you like."

Nipping another potential rumor in the bud: The Cubs have expressed long-standing interest in A's outfielder Nick Swisher, but they have been firmly rebuffed every time.